North Central (NCAA), Menlo (NAIA), Indian Hills (NJCAA) are No. 1 in women’s college preseason polls
by NWCA, NAIA, NJCAA and USA Wrestling
The three major college sports organizations with varsity women’s wrestling programs have released their preseason polls, as the 2023-24 college wrestling competition season has begun.
Below are the team and individual rankings for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
North Central is No. 1 in NCAA Women's Wrestling Preseason Poll
MANHEIM, Pa. – With the start of 2023-24 women's wrestling season nearing, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released their NCAA Women's Wrestling Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending national champion North Central College sits atop top poll with 14 individuals ranked while six schools have individuals ranked for the first time.
For the second straight year, North Central is ranked atop the poll in the preseason rankings with 128 points. The Cardinals finished won the 2023 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Coalition (NCWWC) National Championships and have 13 individuals ranked, including seven ranked No. 1.
They are followed by 2022 runner-up and NWCA National Duals champion King University who has 67 points. These two programs are the only two that have at least 10 individuals ranked as the Tornado have 10 ranked individuals.
McKendree University is ranked third with 60 points and nine ranked individuals while Colorado Mesa University has eight ranked individuals and checks in at fourth with 51 points. Sacred Heart University is fifth with 29 points with four individuals ranked while Gannon University has four individuals ranked and is ranked sixth.
NCAA Women’s Wrestling Preseason Team Rankings
Rank/Institution/Total Points, Individuals ranked, previous rank
1. North Central 128 13 2
2. King 67 10 1
3. McKendree 60 9
4. Colorado Mesa 51 8 4
5. Sacred Heart 29 4 9
6. Gannon 26 4 8
7. East Stroudsburg 25 3 11
T8. Lock Haven 22 2 7
T8. Iowa 22 2 NR
10. Adrian 16 3 13
11. Lindenwood 14 2 NR
12. Mount Olive 13 2 NR
T13. Aurora 12 1 10
T13. Presbyterian 12 1 12
T13. Northern Michigan 12 2 14
16. Emmanuel 11 3 NR
17. Tiffin 10 1 17
18. Augsburg 9 1 5
T19.. UW-Stevens Point 7 2 NR
T19. New Jersey City 7 1 16
T19. Ursinus 7 1 NR
T22. Elmira 4 1 NR
T22. Chadron State 4 1 NR
T24. Texas Woman’s 3 1 NR
T24. Emory & Henry 3 1 NR
T24. Simpson 3 1 NR
This is a tournament power index ranking. The poll is not based on a team’s dual strength.
Top-Ranked NCAA Individuals
101 Maddie Avila, North Central
109 Sydney Petzinger, North Central
116 Jaslynn Gallegos, North Central
123 Amani Jones, North Central
130 Cameron Guerin, McKendree
136 Yele Aycock, North Central
143 London Houston, North Central
155 Dalia Garibay, Colorado Mesa
170 Chey Bowman, King
191 Traeh Haynes, North Central
Menlo College is No. 1 in NAIA Women's Preseason Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Menlo (Calif.) sits atop the NAIA Women's Wrestling Preseason Top 20. Life (Ga.), Grand View (Iowa), William Penn (Iowa), and Providence (Mont.) round out the top 5 to jump-start the 2023-24 women's wrestling season. Reigning national champion Southern Oregon starts the fresh season in sixth.
NAIA WOMEN’S WRESTLING PRESEASON POLL
Rank/Last Time/ Team/ Points
1 4 Menlo (Calif.) 201
2 1 Life (Ga.) 180
3 2 Grand View (Iowa) 175
4 RV William Penn (Iowa) 159
5 8 Providence (Mont.) 138
6 3 Southern Oregon 132
7 11 Indiana Tech 130
8 10 Campbellsville (Ky.) 122
9 6 Texas Wesleyan 106
10 13 Missouri Baptist 93
11 5 Cumberlands (Ky.) 78
12 17 Oklahoma City 76
13 20 Doane (Neb.) 68
14 12 Missouri Valley 62
15 16 Hastings (Neb.) 57
16 7 Central Methodist (Mo.) 54
17 19 Baker (Kan.) 47
18 15 Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 43
19 14 Eastern Oregon 40
20 18 Midland (Neb.) 36
Receiving Votes: Lourdes (Ohio) 35, Jamestown (N.D.) 35, Ottawa (Kan.) 33, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 32, Vanguard (Calif.) 29, Waldorf (Iowa) 25, Siena Heights (Mich.) 23, Friends (Kan.) 22, Avila (Mo.) 21, Saint Mary (Kan.) 18, York (Neb.) 18, St. Andrews (N.C.) 16, Jarvis Christian (Texas) 13, Montreat (N.C.) 4
Top-Ranked NAIA Individuals
101 – Erin Hikiji, Providence (Mont.)
109 – Mia Palumbo, William Penn (Iowa)
116 – Camille Fournier, Texas Wesleyan
123 – Carolina Moreno, Southern Oregon
130 – Sarah Savidge, Life (Ga.)
136 – Adaugo Nwachukwu, William Penn (Iowa)
143 – Jamilah McBryde, Life (Ga.)
155 – Latifah McBryde, Life (Ga.)
170 – Abby McIntyre, Grand View (Iowa)
191 – Tavia Heidelberg-Tillotson, Menlo (Calif.)
Indian Hills is No. 1 in NJCAA Women's Preseason Poll
Indian Hills, which won the inaugural NJCAA Women’s Wrestling Invitational in 2023, is ranked No. 1 in the preseason rankings released by the NJCAA. Rounding out the top five are No. 2 Iowa Central, No. 3. Umpqua, No. 4 Snow and No. 5 Carl Albert.
2023-24 NJCAA Women's Wrestling - Preseason
Rank/Team/Points
1 Indian Hills 139
2 Iowa Central 117
3 Umpqua 107
4 Snow 87
5 Carl Albert 79
6 Iowa Western 61
7 Southwestern Oregon 34
8 North Iowa Area 20
9 Southeast (NE) 16
10 Trinidad State 10
Top-Ranked NAIA Individuals
101 - Dutchess King, Indian Hills
109 - Lexi Miller, Carl Albert
116 - Shammilka Miranda Diaz, Indian Hills
123 - Victoriana Kim, Southwestern Oregon
130 - Zainab Ibrahim, Umpqua
136 - Anaable Garcia, Umpqua
143 - Ana Barnoski, Carl Albert
155 - Ferny Hernandez, Iowa Western
170 - Yaracely Saenz, Indian Hills
191 - Maranda Bell, Iowa Central
235 - Eliana Bommarito, Indian Hills